Supporting Ipswich has been a frustrating venture in the last 10 years with the side an established Championship side, who have constantly fallen short of promotion to the Premier League.

Last season they finished seventh whilst the season before they were beaten by rivals Norwich in the play-offs.

Manager Mick McCarthy has been in charge since 2012 and since then they have been getting close to a long awaited Premier League return.

Brett Pitman and Daryl Murphy were there key players up-front, but Murphy scored nearly 30 goals in the season before and if he replicated that form they would have finished in the top 6.

Ipswich have produced plenty of top talents in the past which have been sold to Premier League sides, and if Ipswich were to sign them back, they could get promoted.

For next season, Ipswich need to establish the Portman Road as a stronghold and add some depth to their striking department plus adding some creativity to their defence.

Here are THREE former players that would fit seamlessly into the side nowadays....

 

Aaron Cresswell

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One of the best young talents to develop at Ipswich is Aaron Cresswell who after joining from Tranmere in 2011, made over 100 appearances for Ipswich.

In his first season he won the Player of the Year award and nailed down the left back position and despite being linked to Premier League sides he stayed loyal.

He was the main starter in the 12/13 season plus the 13/14 season and was renowned as one of the best full backs in the Football League, earning himself a move to Premier League side West Ham.

He has been a regular starter for West Ham over the course of the last 2 seasons who came close to the Champions League last season, in his first season, Cresswell won the Young Player of the Year and for showing consistency this season.

Connor Wickham

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The 23- year-old striker is now in an established Premier League side, after leaving Ipswich in 2010.

He came through their academy scoring 13 goals in 65 games, impressing plenty of Premier League sides with Sunderland snapping him up.

He scored a disappointing 11 goals in 80 games for Sunderland with his best time coming on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored 8 goals in 11 games, showing how good he would be in the Championship.

After moving to Crystal Palace he was an established starter, working hard for the team scoring 5 goals including one in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Conor Hourihane

Conor Hourihane

The Irish midfielder has worked very hard since leaving Ipswich in 2011, without playing a game and he impressed for Plymouth.

His impressive displays saw him made captain in the 12/13 season and he scored 13 goals in his final two seasons there attracting interest from the Championship and Premier League.

But it was League 1 side Barnsley that signed him and he was one of their best players scoring 13 goals.

He was one of their Players of the Season and crucial to their promotion - Ipswich could do with his passion, passing and vision in midfield.

Thoughts and opinions Ipswich fans? Leave comments below!